I'm getting ready to buy a Great Planes Venus 40.

Any recommendations for a good engine? I would like to stay under $160.

Thanks!

A good quality ball-bearing .46 seems to be plenty for this plane. I don't personally have this one, but a couple guys at the field do. One thing that both of them had trouble with is fuel delivery. It seems that the fuel tank doesn't line up in the desirable position for an inverted mounted engine. One guy cured the problem with a pump, not sure what the other guy did. Hopefully somebody that has the plane will chime in soon!

I put an OS .50SX in mine and have been very pleased with the combination.

I second the OS .50sx, great combination. When the engine was new I had to use a hemostat to reach into the cowl and close off the fuel line to the carb during fueling. After about a gallon of fuel I could lean the low end needle down a bit and now I just fuel it like any other plane and go.

Even tho I have bigger/nicer/fancier/more expensive planes now it's still my favorite plane.

I have an OS 46 fx on mine, side mounted with a pitts muffler. All the power you want to fly any maneuver, and it's easy to get at the plumbing for fueling. This a light, great flying plane. Keep it light and you will have one of the best flying planes on the market. Enjoy.

I love my OS-50SX and my 46FX's always run perfectly!

I would also throw into the mix:

Irvine-53 (Swings big props and is torquey)
MVVS-49 (same as above)
Webra-50GT (super light)

If budget is a concern try the TT Pro-46

Enjoy!

I had the 46-fx in mine. Flew just fine.

my venus has an ASP .46 inverted. Sometimes it'll hydrolock after fueling and during starting, but i just remove the plug and dry it off. Otherwise it runs great and the plane flys awesome

Given that the OS 50SX cost $50 more than the new OS 46AX and that several of you indicates that the Venus performs well with the 46FX, I think I will go with the 46AX.

I used an OS 50SX which was great.

you can read my review on this fine plane and see it in action with this powerplant up front in the videos

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=107

Your excellent review was one of the reasons I chose the Venus 40.

I still hope it will fly well with the 46AX since it's a lot cheaper than the 50SX.

Thanks!

Boy this one sounds like an OS add. I am going to break from the mold. An Irvine 53 is a good choice. And lastly an MVVS 49 with a tuned muffler would really work in that plane. Both can swing a decent sized prop and work well for pattern. Good luck with it.

Mark Shuman

I fly mine with a 46fx and it is great....I use the MACs one piece mini-pipe and a APC 12+4.....
This combo has been very nice and it flies VERY straight. Be sure to move the CG back
some once you are comfortable with the plane as it will make the knife edge even better
than you could imagine and also flatten out those inverted spins better....your going
to love this plane...
xanaphyst

A Saito .82 with an APC 13x7...

Man - O - man... [sm=lol.gif]

One heck of a combo.

I finally ordered the Venus 40 with the Magnum XLS-52. I know it was a wile since I posted the original question, however, I got side-tracked with getting the Sky Raider Mach II in-between.

I'll make sure to experiment with the CG once I get familiar with the Venus. So far I have only heard good things about this plane

Thanks,

Tycho

I noticed nobody has mentioned side mounting the engine with a Pitts muffler on this model. Has anyone seen it done? Good idea? Bad idea?

Good question. I ordered mine with a pitts muffler. I was planning on using it on the Venus.

In my opinion it is a mistake...It will take a big "chop-job".....I run my 46 inverted in mine with ZERO problems...Think about it this way....
When the engine s upside down the carb is at a level lower than normal "improved fuel flow". The only thing to watch for is when you are
fueling it up to lift the nose of the plane a little and alsohave the piston covering the exhaust port so the engine doesn't flood...I think
your choice of the 52 will work out well and would like to hear how the combo works as I may put one in my next Venus.....
Also..for the extra money it would be hard to beat the new Saito 82....put a 12+4 on that 52 and it should rip....

xanaphyst

Only one post mentioned the fuel tank. Did anyone move theirs? I am putting an OS 50SX in mine and it seems to sit way below the tank.

I replied earlier that I have my OS 46FX side mounted with a pitts (slimline) muffler. I much prefer side mount to most any other way. I'm lazy, I don't like to spend my time at the field dinking around with the engine. This side mount is ideally set up relative to carburator/fuel tank position. I use a 3 line fuel system with a fuel dot for filling and emptying the tank. Priming is simple, the OS generally starts on the first back flip. Lazy is good!

Should have read your previous post better

I ordered the same slimline Pitts muffler. Does the whole muffler fit inside the cowl, or is a big "chop-job" as xanaphyst mentions needed?

Thanks,

Tycho

I'll send pics as soon as I can figure out how to do it. The cut away is the cylinderhead, down to the carb and back to the cylinder. The front of the muffler is exposed, the rear is in the cowl. A horizontal cut behind the cylinder accommodates removal and replacement of the cowl.

That would be great!

Thanks,

tycho

Definitely send the pics. Me like pictures.

Here is my attempt at posting pics of the side mounted engine in my Venus.